Making the Euros North an easy task
NORTHERN Ireland avoided the nightmare scenario of relegation to the Nations League’s fourth tier — but still face a difficult draw in the Euro 2024 qualifiers.
Cyprus’ loss to Kosovo meant Ian Baraclough’s side hung on to third in Group C2.
But they will drop into pot five for next month’s draw for the Euros qualifiers, making reaching the finals in Germany in two years’ time even more testing.
On the night of Jonny Evans’ 100th cap for the North, the joy of Saturday’s late victory over
Kosovo at Windsor Park dissipated at the Georgios Kamaras Stadium as the 976 travelling fans gathered behind former Sligo Rovers supremo Baraclough’s dugout made their feelings known, with some booing the manager at the final whistle.
North keeper Bailey PeacockFarrell dropped George Baldock’s cross and Hull’s Dimitrios Pelkas nodded the loose ball into the empty net after 14 minutes last night.
Yards
However, the North were to make amends just four minutes later when Shayne Lavery finished from six yards.
Steven Davis picked up the pieces of a half-cleared free-kick and sent in a fine cross from the left, with Lavery on hand to side-foot the ball home from close range.
But on 55 minutes Giorgios Masouras was allowed too much time and space in front of goal to slot home past Peacock-Farrell.
And the keeper was caught out for Petros Mantalos’ 80th-minute third to leave the North with a big task if they are to repeat their feat of reaching the 2016 European Championships in France, when they got out of their group before losing to Wales in the last 16.